NATS Records April Rise in Air Traffic

NATS handled 180,036 flights in April, a rise of 2.2% compared to the same period last year continuing a 13 month trend of air traffic increases.

Delays attributable to NATS totalled 344 minutes, representing the lowest April total since records began in 1996.

Nine out of the fifteen airports where NATS operates air traffic control saw a rise in commercial traffic when compared to April last year due to the Easter holidays falling later than in previous years.

Birmingham saw a rise of 9.9% and both Gatwick and Stansted experienced a rise of 7.8%.

Leading market growth last month was Other Overflights (Non-Transatlantic) with a 5.6% rise and Other Arrivals/Departures which rose by 4.0% in comparison to the same time last year. The Domestic market segment saw a decline of 5.3%.

Martin Rolfe

Martin Rolfe, Managing Director Operations, NATS, said: “As the busy summer travel period approaches, April shows encouraging signs for the months ahead.

We are handling more commercial traffic at the majority of UK airports where we operate and in addition to this we are keeping delay times to a minimum.

This is good news for our airport and airline customers as well as passengers.”